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CapitalPress.com
Friday, July 22, 2022
People & Places
Helping farmers grow coffee
By JULIA HOLLISTER
For the Capital Press
GOLETA, Calif. — Over
20 years ago, a University
of California farm adviser
had an idea: to find new, via-
ble, value-added crops that
would benefit farmers. His
answer: coffee.
“Coffee was part of that
experience,” said Jay Rus-
key, founder of Good Land
Organics, the flagship farm
and home of FRINJ Coffee.
“In 2002, I planted a trial
crop of coffee and proved
that coffee could be grown
outside tropical regions.”
Currently, FRINJ pro-
vides coffee plants as well
as breeding their own
hybrids. The goal is to
provide California farm-
ers with vigorous plants
that thrive in the California
climate.
The result: High-quality,
California-grown coffee.
Ruskey said his program
serves the farmer who is
trying to diversify in a
growing market in which
consumers are aware of the
quality of their coffee and
where it is grown, similar
to the wine industry.
Here’s how the growing
process works:
• If a farmer is interested
in growing FRINJ Coffee,
he or she can contact Rus-
key to do a site evaluation.
If the soil is appropriate, he
will provide a comprehen-
sive plan.
• The farmer pays for
the plants and gets support
from bean to cup.
Coffee plants take about
four years to reach full
production.
“We have established a
whole systems solution to
Established 1928
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
Anne Long ................. Advertising Director
Western
Innovator
Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor
Samantha Stinnett .....Circulation Manager
Entire contents copyright © 2022
JAY RUSKEY
EO Media Group
Hometown: Goleta, Calif.
dba Capital Press
Occupation: Chief execu-
tive officer and co-found-
er of Good Land Organics
and FRINJ Coffee.
Education: California
Polytechnic University,
San Luis Obispo, AgBusi-
ness and Marketing
Family: Kristen (wife), a
daughter and two sons
Website: www.goodlan-
dorganics.com
Good Land Organics
Jay Ruskey, founder of Good Land Organics, has proved that coffee can be grown
outside tropical regions. He helps other farmers grow coffee.
Quote: “FRINJ is pio-
neering California-grown
coffee for generations
to come and provides a
unique opportunity for
farmers to benefit from
a value-added crop in
California to capture the
craft consumer.”
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coffee production, which
includes growing, harvest-
ing and processing sup-
port,” Ruskey said. “We
are pioneering the Califor-
nia Coffee Movement.
“We also reduce the
investment the farmer has
to make to take the cof-
fee to market by provid-
ing processing and sales
resources,” he said.
FRINJ consults with the
farmer on proper irrigation,
nutrition and pruning for
successful crops.
The coffee tree begins
its flowering cycle in the
summer, with a 10-12
month period for fruit mat-
uration. When the cher-
ries are a dark red, they are
harvested and taken to the
Bonsall Mill in San Diego
County, where the fruit and
seeds are separated, dried
and processed.
Coffees are then cured
2-4 months, shelled and
sorted, and prepared for
roasting and sales.
Good Land Organics
in Santa Barbara County
receives northern farmers’
fruit and handles all storage,
dry milling and roasting.
“Coffee is not easy to
grow,” he said. “If you can
grow good fruit, there is a
high chance you will have
a high-scoring coffee for
maximum return. Today, we
support over 70 farms in the
coastal climates of Central
and Southern California.”
In
California,
cof-
fee plants are irrigated,
whereas most of the
world’s growers rely on
rainfall. Irrigation allows
farmers to adjust the nutri-
tion and soil acidity, allow-
ing for more flexibility.
FRINJ Coffee has sev-
eral cultivars of coffee.
“Our Geishas and Can-
turras are well known for
their distinct flavor pro-
files,” he said. “Geishas are
floral with more black tea
qualities, while the Cantur-
ras have great body with
strong fruit flavors with a
citrus finish.”
News Staff
Idaho
Carol Ryan Dumas ..............208-860-3898
Boise
Brad Carlson .......................208-914-8264
Western Washington
Don Jenkins .........................360-722-6975
Eastern Washington
Matthew Weaver ................509-688-9923
Oregon
George Plaven ....................406-560-1655
Mateusz Perkowski .............800-882-6789
Sierra Dawn McClain ..........503-506-8011
Reclamation uses goat grazing to
reduce wildfire threats in California
By SIERRA DAWN McCLAIN
Capital Press
AUBURN, Calif. — The
U.S. Bureau of Reclama-
tion, the federal agency that
manages water in the West,
will use targeted graz-
ing with goats this sum-
mer through fall to reduce
wildfire threats in Auburn,
Calif., near Sacramento.
Reclamation has part-
nered with two California
organizations — the Cali-
fornia Department of Parks
and Recreation and Auburn
State Recreation Area —
for the 474-acre project.
The purpose of the proj-
ect is to use grazing goats
to decrease vegetation
loads in woodlands next
to the City of Auburn and
around the wildland-urban
interface, where houses
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is using targeted graz-
ing with goats this year to reduce wildfire threats in Cal-
ifornia.
meet the forest.
“Goat grazing will help
thin lower vegetation lay-
ers, reduce the potential for
wildfire to move into the
larger growths of shrubs
and trees and create space
for firefighting equipment
access,” the Bureau of Rec-
lamation wrote in a state-
ment July 12.
Reclamation’s planned
project reflects a broader
trend. According to graz-
ing experts at USDA and
Oregon State Univer-
sity, interest in using cat-
tle, sheep and goats for tar-
geted grazing is growing
among federal agencies,
including the U.S. Forest
Service, Bureau of Land
Management and Bureau
of Reclamation. State and
local organizations are also
exploring the practice.
For this project, accord-
ing to Reclamation, the
goats are being deployed to
control annual grasses and
invasive plants, including
scotch broom and orna-
mentals, and to main-
tain an existing fuel break
dubbed the Auburn Shaded
Fuel Break, which was pre-
viously treated by hand
crews.
This summer’s grazing
work is part of a five-year
fuels management project.
Reclamation
previously
had a goat grazing contract
in the area last fall and has
decided to renew the work
in 2022.
With support from
Placer County Resource
Conservation
District,
the agencies have already
established this shaded fuel
break and have now con-
tracted goat herds to graze
along the 600-foot bound-
ary this summer and fall.
Electric fencing is used
to keep goats where they’re
supposed to be.
Under the supervision
of goat herders and herd-
ing dogs, two herds will be
deployed to do the work,
each covering a different
area.
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CALENDAR
Submit upcoming ag-related
events on www.capitalpress.com
or by email to newsroom@capital-
press.com.
THROUGH JULY 31
California State Fair & Food
Festival: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposi-
tion Blvd., Sacramento, Calif. The
California State Fair is dedicated as
a place to celebrate the best the
state has to offer in agriculture,
technology, and the diversity of its
people, traditions, and trends that
shape the Golden State’s future.
Website: https://calexpostatefair.
com/
TUESDAY JULY 26
American Farmland Trust
Idaho Webinar (online): 1-2 p.m.
“Farms Under Threat 2040: Choos-
ing an Abundant Future” report
by American Farmland Trust to be
discussed. Register at https://bit.
ly/3o3pRJ0 Contact: David Ander-
son, Idaho program manager, 208-
202-5157, danderson@farmland.
org
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
JULY 30-31
Great Oregon Steam-Up:
7 a.m.-6 p.m., Powerland Heritage
Park, 3995 Brooklake Road NE,
Brooks, Ore. Enjoy a steam-pow-
ered day with train and trolley
rides, a parade, steam sawmill-
ing, traditional tractor pulling,
machinery demos, threshing, flour
milling, fire apparatus demos,
museum tours, kids pedal trac-
tor pulling and a youth passport
program. Website: www.antique-
powerland.com/steam-up Phone:
503-393-2424
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
AUG. 6-7
Great Oregon Steam-Up:
7 a.m.-6 p.m., Powerland Heritage
Park, 3995 Brooklake Road NE,
Brooks, Ore. Enjoy a steam-pow-
ered day with train and trolley rides,
a parade, steam sawmilling, tra-
ditional tractor pulling, machin-
ery demos, threshing, flour mill-
ing, fire apparatus demos, museum
tours, kids pedal tractor pulling and
a youth passport program. Web-
site: www.antiquepowerland.com/
steam-up Phone: 503-393-2424
MONDAY AUG. 8
Transitioning Your Ag Busi-
ness to the Next Chapter:
12:30-4 p.m. Paisley Community
Center, 705 Chewaucan St., Pais-
ley, Ore. Farm and Ranch succes-
sion counselor and accountant
Diana Tourney will prepare you for
the human and financial elements
of succession planning. Easement
specialist Marc Hudson will answer
your questions about working lands
conservation easements — what
they are, what they aren’t, and how
they may be helpful in executing
your agricultural business plans.
These in-person events are part of a
free 6-workshop series in Lake, Har-
ney and Malheur counties. All are
welcome, and the events are free.
RSVP for these or any of OAT’s other
events and refer any questions
about the event to diane@orego-
nagtrust.org 503-858-2683
TUESDAY AUG. 9
Transitioning Your Ag Busi-
ness to the Next Chapter:
12:30-4 p.m. Lake County Library,
26 South G St., Lakeview, Ore. Farm
and Ranch succession counselor
and accountant Diana Tourney will
prepare you for the human and
financial elements of succession
planning. Easement specialist Marc
Hudson will answer your questions
about working lands conservation
easements —what they are, what
they aren’t, and how they may be
helpful in executing your agricul-
tural business plans. These in-per-
son events are part of a free 6-work-
shop series in Lake, Harney and
Malheur counties. All are welcome,
and the events are free. RSVP for
these or any of OAT’s other events
and refer any questions about the
event to diane@oregonagtrust.org
503-858-2683
MONDAY-TUESDAY
AUG. 8-9
American Lamb Summit:
Michigan State University and East
Lansing Marriott East Lansing, Mich.
The summit will focus on compet-
itiveness, production and quality
of American lamb. Website: https://
www.lambresourcecenter.com
THURSDAY-FRIDAY
AUG. 11-12
Idaho Milk Processors Associa-
tion Annual Conference: Sun Valley
Resort, Sun Valley, Idaho. The con-
ference will focus on industry issues.
Website: https://www.impa.us
SATURDAY AUG. 13
Family Forest Field Day
— Southwest Washington:
9 a.m.-4 p.m. L & H Family Tree
Farm, 1309 King Road, Winlock,
Wash. Whether you own a “home
in the woods” or many acres of
land, this “out in the woods” educa-
newsroom@capitalpress.com
tional event is packed with practical
“how-to” information that you need
to know. Learn more at https://for-
estry.wsu.edu/sw/fd2022/.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
AUG. 13-14
Dufur Threshing Bee 2022:
6 a.m.-3 p.m. Main Street, Dufur,
Ore. Relive the good old days at the
Dufur Threshing Bee. Included will
be blacksmiths, a one-room school
house, the Dufur Historical Soci-
ety, petting zoo, food booths and
artists’ booths, tractor pull, vintage
car show, hometown dinner and
a steam engine display. Contact:
Nancy Gibson, 541-993-3429.
WEDNESDAY AUG. 17
Miller Research Potato Pest
Management Field Day: 10 a.m.-
12:15 p.m. Miller Research, 422 E.
200 N. Rupert, Idaho. Plant pathol-
ogist Jeff Miller to host. Event to
focus on chemical management
of diseases, highlight research
by Pacific Northwest Potato
Research Consortium. Pesticide
and pest-management credits have
been requested. Lunch to follow.
Website: https://bit.ly/3IC8pon
AUG. 19-28
Western Idaho Fair: 11 a.m.
Western Idaho Fairgrounds, 5610
Glenwood St., Boise. Western Idaho
gets together annually for this cel-
ebration of country living. Website:
https://idahofair.com
AUG. 26-SEPT. 5
Oregon State Fair: 10 a.m. Ore-
gon State Fair & Exposition Center,
2330 17th St. NE, Salem. The Ore-
gon State Fair continues through
Sept. 5. Website: https://oregon-
statefair.org/
or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press.
Include a contact telephone number.
SEPT. 2-10
Eastern Idaho State Fair: East-
ern Idaho Fairgrounds, 97 Park St.,
Blackfoot, Idaho. It’s fair time in
Idaho. Website: https://funatthefair.
com/general-info/
comments on agriculture-related public
SEPT. 2-25
Press. Letters should be limited to
Washington State Fair:
10:30 a.m. Puyallup Fairgrounds,
110 9th Ave. SW, Puyallup, Wash.
The Washington State Fair is the
largest single attraction held
annually in the state of Washing-
ton. Closed Tuesdays and Sept. 7.
Website: https://www.thefair.com/
THURSDAY SEPT. 8
Farm & Ranch Succession
Planning and Working Lands
Easements: 12:30- 4 p.m. OSU
Malheur County Extension, 710
Southwest 5th Ave., Ontario, Ore.
Attorney June Flores will present
on the topics of succession and
estate planning, and how to pre-
pare your operation to be resil-
ient for future generations. Ease-
ment specialist Marc Hudson will
answer your questions about
working lands conservation ease-
ments —what they are, what they
aren’t, and how they may be help-
ful in executing your agricultural
business plans. These in-person
events are part of a free 6-work-
shop series in Lake, Harney and
Malheur counties. All are wel-
come, and the events are free.
RSVP for these or any of OAT’s
other events and refer any ques-
tions about the event to diane@
oregonagtrust.org 503-858-2683
Letters to the Editor: Send your
issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or
mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital
300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday.
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Index
Markets .................................................14
Opinion ...................................................8
Correction policy
Accuracy is important to Capital Press
staff and to our readers.
If you see a misstatement, omission or
factual error in a headline, story or photo
caption, please call the Capital Press news
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